A uniquely creative performer and promoter of a wide range of music, Tamer Abu Ghazaleh is a leading figure in modern Arabic culture. This singer, multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer has over the past few years released a debut album and founded eka3 (2007), a regional platform dedicated to promoting, producing, distributing, and touring independent Arabic music. This is his debut album titled Mir'ah (Mirror) and the lyrics are either in classical Arabic or in the Levantine colloquial dialect.

**1. 7ob [Love] is a piece with classical Arabic lyrics with guitar sound only

On October 25th 2012, Charnobyl Voice hosted Mashrou' Leila's first show in North America. Lebanese (alternative) music group Mashrou' Leila performed in Montreal, Canada to a sold out audience of fans who kept begging for more. The group also recorded their new album in Montreal--a soon-to-be-released follow up to their 2 previously released musical masterpieces.

Here is a video clip from the Montreal concerts:

Upon the group's return to Beirut, Lebanon, the band's lead vocalist, Hamed Sinno, performed with Piers Faccini on November 25, 2012 at Music Hall . Here is a teaser from that event:

Although the Palestinian Hip Hop group DAM has been criticized for releasing this song and video clip during such tumultuous times in Gaza (see this link), this blogger thinks that the group's new release is still definitely worth a look.

The video clip was directed by Jackie Salloum (Slingshot Hip Hop) and broaches the issue of 'honor killings' and violence against women. It has been supported by UN Women (United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women). DAM is joined in this recording by well known singer Amal Murkus and the clip, available in HD, also includes optional English subtitles.

**ENGLISH TRANSLATION:
Arabic script: If I Could Go Back In Time (Suhel Nafar)

‏Before she was murdered, she wasn't alive
‏We'll tell her story backwards from her murder to her birth
‏Her body rises from the grave to the ground
‏The bullet flies out of her forehead and swallowed into the gun
‏The sound of her echo screams, she screams back
‏Tears rise up from her cheeks to her eyes
‏Behind the clouds of smoke, faces of her family appear
‏Without shame, her brother puts the gun in his pocket
‏Her father throws down the shovel and wipes the sweat off his forehead
‏He shakes his head, satisfied from the size of the grave
‏They drag her back to the car, her legs kicking
‏Like a sand storm, she's erasing her own tracks
‏They throw her in the trunk, she doesn't know where she is
‏But she knows that three left the house and only two will return
‏They reach the house; throw her to the bed in violence
‏"So you want run away huh?" they wake her with violence

‏Amal Murkus (Chorus)
‏If I could go back in time
‏I would smile
‏Fall in love
‏Sing
‏If I could go back in time
‏I would draw
‏Write
‏Sing

‏Mahmood Jrere:
‏She dreams before falling asleep
‏We'll tell her story backwards, maybe understand
‏The clock hands move right to left
‏She reconstructs her steps as if she were lost
‏She sleeps prepared, money for the taxi
‏Plane ticket and passport under her pillow
‏Answer: leave the clothes in the closet; she plans to wear a new life
‏Question: what if they ask what the suitcase is for?
‏She went to bed, leaves table
‏Eats well, she must act today
‏Her nose stops bleeding, that's what they see
‏But it's a fresh wound; before they will beat her she will beat them
‏Her mom says "your life is like heaven"
‏She's right, if you taste the forbidden you better know someone is watching
‏Two hours before dinner, the phone hangs up
‏Her mom is shocked "the flight is delayed"
‏Phone rings

‏ Amal Murkus (Chorus)

‏Tamer Nafar:
‏Before she answers, she isn't even asked
‏The story is like the logic in her life, all backwards
‏Her hands up in the sky, begging for help
‏Their hands up in the sky reciting the Fatiha (ceremony before marriage)
‏The calendar page moves one day back, the time is
‏Afternoon, the argument is over, her brother commands her
‏Blood flows from her lips to her nose
‏A sound of a fist, his hand jumps from her face
‏It's the first time in her life that she says "NO!"
‏Her mom announces happily "tomorrow you will marry your cousin"
‏If I look through the album of her life
‏I won't see a photo of her standing up for her rights
‏It's hard, the pages are stuck to my hand
‏Her past full of blood and tears
‏But we promise you, from her murder to her birth
‏Their expressions filled with anger as if someone announced a crime
‏"Congratulations, it's a girl"
‏The beginning.

Arabic script: Freedom For My Sisters

----
*CREDITS and ENGLISH TRANSLATION*

Lyrics written by DAM
Music produced & arranged by NABIL NAFAR
Mixed by SAQIB and NABIL NAFAR
Mastered by SAQIB

The Thanksgiving edition of Arabology (aired Nov 22) was co-hosted by DJ Ramzi, Eric and Ahmad and included beautiful Arabic songs about counting one's blessing and not forgetting others.

The show also featured two special songs for Fairuz's 77th birthday, two new songs by Mashrou' Leila, and a special interview with male belly dancer/screenwriter Saleem who wrote the controversial stage play 'Salam Shalom' (see pictures and complete playlist below)

There are two dates that are crucial to all Palestinians. The first is 1948, when the Arab-Israeli War displaced the first wave of perpetual refugees during a time known as the Nakba -- "the disaster." The second is 1967, when those Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza were also unsettled by the Six-Day War, families were forever separated and a new Palestinian exodus surged.

But there may be a third date to add to Palestinian history, this time a positive marker of great things to come. In 2013 the Palestinian state may acquire non-member "observer state" status at the UN which would mark a day when, in the words of veteran Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, "life will not be the same." This coming year could also see the first Palestinian entry on an Oscar short list and quite possibly an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film going to Annemarie Jacir's When I Saw You. Yes, her film is just that good and with Iran withdrawing, the members of the Academy should be looking for a new milestone.

If it sounds like I'm gushing about Jacir's film, don't be mistaken, I am. I've been a huge fan of her work since watching her first feature two year ago. Salt of this Sea was beautiful cinema, with a strong, angry and perfectly right to be so heroine. But her latest, When I Saw You, is cinematic poetry, the perfect blend of stunning cinematography, humanly portrayed characters and a story that hits you with an immediate gut reaction, yet colors your dreams and inhabits your thoughts for days to come.

Perhaps my deep-rooted love of Jacir's work stems from the fact I believe that as individuals, all we really want in our heart is to belong and to be understood. While most filmmakers explore this basic human craving with stories about lovers and romance, Annemarie Jacir has always hit closer to home for me, journeying through the plight of the displaced. And anyone who has ever left their home behind, for however long or by whatever reasons, cannot be left unmoved by Jacir's films.

Both of Jacir's feature films, she confesses, are personal. While Salt of this Sea presented a more political character in Soraya, Jacir admits When I Saw You came out of "such a different place." She continues, "it came out of the depression after being denied entry [into Palestine] and searching in my own life for hope, for hopefulness." The film is an ode of remembrance to a time when Palestinians felt hopeful and Jacir explains the choice of a specific date to open When I Saw You:

"I think 1948 is the year that is important for all Palestinians, it's the year that we lost Palestine, became refugees and I think everybody is affected by that year. But 1967 is more personal to my family because we are from the West Bank, my parents are from Bethlehem and that was the year they lost their country. Those who stayed behind lived under military occupation, those who were outside could not return and all my life I grew up hearing '1967,' all their casual conversations were 'before 1967,' it was always the point of reference -- life before 1967 and life after 1967. So I wanted to do something with that time period, that I also had not seen on screen before."

Out of the magic that turned out to be this year's Abu Dhabi Film Festival, I was asked to moderate a talk with Jacir for an afternoon "in conversation with" this brilliant filmmaking voice from the Arab world. I had heard Jacir talk before, I knew there was still much left unsaid and so much I wanted to ask her. The depth of her films seem to point to a woman way beyond her 30-something years (although she jokes that somewhere on the internet there is a rumor she was born in 1948) and a person who, despite her struggles, has retained a powerfully positive spirit and outlook.

Before Salt of this Sea, "I had the privilege of Palestine" Jacir says during our talk and continues, "then I was denied entry and could no longer return." Finding herself in the position of Tarek -- the 11-year-old protagonist of When I Saw You who longs for home, refusing the boundaries set by those around him -- and many Palestinian refugees "who can just see their homeland across the valley and can no longer reach it," Jacir felt depressed. Yet through the film, four years and a wedding later "to get personal, I was split up from a loved one, who's now my husband," Jacir's situation changed and more recently she's managed to return to Palestine three times, the earliest with filmmaker Ken Loach on his first visit to the country.

When I Saw You, to someone who watches cinema for its impact beyond sheer entertainment, is a revolutionary film. Funded in pre-production by SANAD (the Development and Post-Production Fund of ADFF), it marks important milestones all around for cinema from MENA. Jacir admits, "they supported the film in development, so did the Dubai Film Connection and that's also new for us, for Arab cinema because historically we've had to look towards Europe for financing, we don't get it from our own countries." Jacir calls SANAD "a filmmaker's dream come true" because "they were there, they chose the project" and basically said "go ahead, we trust you and your producers to do the right thing." Then in post-production "SANAD came on board again along with the Thessaloniki Film Festival" and Jacir jokes, "this broke film was saved by a broke country, Greece, in the most generous way." Also noteworthy, there were private investors from the region who loved Salt of this Sea and wanted to be involved in Jacir's next project.

When I ask Jacir what she means with her title, she explains, "When you see something or someone that you've seen maybe a million times but you really see it for the first time because you understand something then that perhaps you didn't understand before." She also gives another explanation as in "seeing Palestine from Jordan, you recognize it over the valley, you see cities at night, the lights... It's so far away and yet so stupidly close."

Jacir is the first to admit that her film could not have existed without her magnificent cast, Mahmoud Asfa and Ruba Blal, along with the divinely sultry Saleh Bakri and the ensemble cast of freedom fighters -- some the sons and daughters of the original, real life Fedayeen. Playing the role of Tarek, the poised and touchingly mature beyond his years Asfa is clearly a darling of the audience in Abu Dhabi and murmurs of "Where's Tarek?" can be overheard on closing night, when the cast and crew accept their well-deserved award for Best Film from the Arab World in the New Horizons category. Asfa is a boy-man who, in Jacir's own words when "not smiling is so heartbreaking, and then when he smiles is like the sun." The stunning Ruba Blal is so wonderfully real in person, when I meet her I have a hard time remembering I'm in the presence of a Palestinian acting legend, albeit a very young one with a great sense of humor.

But ultimately, the triumph of a film lies within the impact it has on the audience, beyond what critics may write or what awards it collects. When I Saw You comes from the collective spirit of a cast and crew who celebrated their win in Abu Dhabi with humble pride, a filmmaker whose vision can easily include realistic portrayals of the games played by an 11-year-old child who doesn't understand labels and the stubbornness of a woman looking for restitution, at any cost.

While Jacir's film pushes us to find the humanity beyond the labels the world imposes on us, there are three I'd personally like to apply to When I Saw You: Beautiful, groundbreaking and deeply, deeply moving.

The film screened on Nov. 4th at the American Film Market in Los Angeles.

Still from When I Saw You and photo of Annemarie Jacir courtesy of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival, used with permission

DJ Nader is known for his amazing remixes all over the Arab world. In this compilation—which can be played as independent tracks or as one long uninterrupted megamix (put CD player on ‘Continuous’ instead of ‘Single’)—he remixes both old and new Arabic songs in with emphasis on loud, joyful, rhythmic music that will cause listeners to immediately start shaking their hips (and bellies).

9. Hasna, a female vocalist from the Gulf, sings about a “Love Messenger” in the Khaliji dialect (4:01)

10. Egyptian living legend Hakim, who has been recording his folksy/shaabi brand of songs for decades, is featured in this remix which was originally recorded as a duet with Latin Pop singer Olga Tanon (4:37)

-- All Tracks are FCC CLEAN --Although this is a children’s album—recorded by the Lebanese Princess of Pop Nancy Ajram as a tribute to her two young daughters Milla and Ella— this CD has been getting so much airplay on radio stations all over the Arab world that its target audience—Arab children—has taken a back seat to the mass appeal of these songs.

**1. Ya Banat.(3:10) is the first single off this album and is an ode to daughters and girls, going against patriarchal and outdated concepts that used to favor the birth of sons over daughters. In Egyptian dialect.2. Bo2 El Katkout (3:13) )[Mouth of the Chicken] Childish track, Arabic nursery rhyme with Egyptian dialect.**3. Ba2ousi (2:50) [Peakaboo] A guilty pleasure for adults, this addictive song was initially intended for children. In Lebanese Arabic.4. Sana Helwa Ya Gamil (4:01) [Happy Birthday] is a variation on the Happy Birthday theme. Egyptian dialect..5. Stouhy (4:38) [Rooftops] Danceable, up beat song with children’s back vocals.**6. Wez 3einak (3:11) [Check it out] Techno sounding children’s nursery rhyme, complete with baby sounds and children’s chorus. Lebanese.7. Oulo Hela (4:06) [Say Hey] Egyptian folksong revived and remixed.**8. Adi El Beida (3:33) [The Egg] A techno dance track that seems geared towards a mass market (not just children).

Aziz Maraka is one of the leading alternative music composers and performers in Jordan. In 2005 he founded the group RAZZ, (Rock-Arabic-Jazz). "Master Copy" is Maraka’s first officially released CD. It includes both studio tracks as well as live versions of some songs. All tracks are in Arabic.

The sixth episode of the 3rd Season of 'Arabology' (aired Nov 8, 2012) includes an interview with Torange Yeghiazarian, Founding Artistic Director of Golden Thread Productions which is currently staging the ReOrient Festival of Short Plays in San Francisco (in English) which explore the Middle East from November 1–18, 2012. Also includes alternative music from the Arab world accompanied by commentary, in English, by your host DJ Ramzi.

The 4th episode of the 3rd season of my radio show 'Arabology' (aired Nov 1, 2012) includes an interview with Soha Al-Jurf, author of 'Even My Voice Is Silence.' Also includes new alternative music from the Arab world accompanied by commentary, in English, by your host DJ Ramzi.

A special preview screening of CASABLANCA MON AMOUR will take place on Saturday Nov 10 at 2:30pm at the New People Cinema in San Francisco. This screening is organized as part of the San Francisco Film Society's Cinema By The Bay Festival.

A non-traditional road movie exploring a Moroccan perspective on the entwined

relationship between Hollywood and the Arab/Muslim World.

SYNOPSIS:

Casablanca Mon Amour is a modern road movie that encapsulates the more complex and fractured nature of living in a world where TV and wars compete for headlines and occupy imaginations. Using movies as a road map between yesterdayʼs Hollywood and todayʼs Morocco, Casablanca Mon Amour offers a Moroccan perspective on the long and entwined relationship between Hollywood and The Arab/Muslim World. Casablanca Mon Amour offers more than a dry critique of the impact of media on culture. Instead, the film takes a human and humorous look at the effects Hollywood films have on peopleʼs imaginations and affords Moroccanʼs (our movie set ʻextrasʼ) an opportunity to talk back—which they do in intelligent, witty and wildly ingenious ways.

Filmed in Morocco ! 79 mins ! In Arabic & French with English subtitles

Zawaya

Oakland, CA

Islamic civilization boasts an intellectual, artistic, and cultural heritage that spans continents and centuries. The gradations of shape, color, taste, texture, and sound that exist within and between Muslim peoples and cultures are as rich and diverse as their ideas and attitudes, as well as their languages, races, and ethnicities. Out of this fertile and potent mix of elements emerged artforms and practices that can enrich and beautify our lives.

Zawaya thus launches an original event: "Doorway to Islamic Civilization", a weekend collection of hands-on workshops on Islamic art and culture set against the current social backdrop of Islamophobia. These workshops are meant to give those interested the opportunity to get to know Islam and Muslims by providing a safe space within which to explore and experience the Islamic sense of beauty embodied in art, crafts, music, architecture, and more. In addition to the workshops, there will be a film showing of "Islamic Art: Mirror of the Invisible World" followed by a panel discussion between the filmmaker, Michael Wolfe, and Islamic art and architecture experts. The Mevlevi Order of America will also be present to offer a Dhikr (a devotional act) by Mevlevi musicians and dervish turners.

This event is co-sponsored by The Afghan Coalition, The Arab Cultural and Community Center of San Francisco (ACCC), Arab Resource and Organizing Center (AROC), Aslan Media, The Center for Islamic Studies at the Graduate Theological Union (GTU)in Berkeley, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SFBA), Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights (CLUE CA), Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California (ICCNC), Islamic Network Group (ING), and Ziya Art Studio.

Events

Zawaya Film Showing: "Islamic Art: Mirror of the Invisible World"

November 09, 2012 7:30 PMThis is my event.The "Doorway to Islamic Civilization" weekend-long event will kick off with a beautiful film: Islamic Art: Mirror of the Invisible World, followed by a panel discussion including filmmaker Michael Wolfe, and Islamic art and architecture experts Dr. Heba Mostafa, R. Hussain, Fateme Montazeri, and Arash Shirinbab. The panel discussion will be followed by live music by the Aswat Ensemble and refreshments.

Workshop AA1: Islamic Ornamentation: Geometric Patterns

November 10, 2012 10:30 AMThis is my event.Learn traditional techniques using simple tools to create geometric shapes and tessellations widely used in Islamic art. At the end of the workshop, you will have created your own artwork in traditional blue and gold.

Workshop AC1: Collaborative Painting: Lyrical Line

November 10, 2012 10:30 AMThis is my event.You will be painting collaboratively with artist Salma Arastu and other participants to create four paintings with Qur'anic verses related to unity, peace, freedom, or love using painted Arabic calligraphy she calls "Lyrical Line". You will contribute to the creation of the artwork by writing or painting your own expressions in Arabic or your own language and style. No previous painting experience required.

Workshop AC4: Islamic Patterns: Decoupage a Box

November 10, 2012 10:30 AMThis is my event.In this workshop, you will explore the world of Islam through one facet of its material culture; in this case, decoupage. You will first be taken on a brief tour of decoupage in Islamic art, after which you will be guided to create a one-of-a kind object of your own, which you can take home.

Workshop M1: Oud & Maqam

November 10, 2012 10:30 AMThis is my event.This workshop is geared towards those who are able to read notes, and already know how to play a plucked string instrument (such as a guitar). You will be gaining exposure to four maqaamaat,, all of which have Arab quarter tones and a sama'i. You will be provided with sheet music and a USB drive with two recordings of the sama'i that you can practice along to. Youth are welcome, but need to be advanced musicians.

Workshop W2: Processing Islamophobia

November 10, 2012 10:30 AMThis is my event.This workshop is for anyone interested in writing about and discussing Islamophobia. This includes men and women, young and old, persons who have experienced this and persons who have not, people of all faiths and nationalities. The workshop will begin with a short introductory session in which participants discuss what Islamophobia is, as it occurs in the media and elsewhere. Next they will write down some of their feelings and/or thoughts on the topic, including (but not limited to): their perceptions of the US media, their own experiences with hatred or fear of Islam, ways they handle Islamophobia when it arises both with regard to others and inside themselves, and ways the US might be influenced to become more tolerant and accepting of Muslims, at home and abroad. Writings will then be shared and discussed. Workshop participants will hopefully emerge more aware of Islamophobia and the role of the media in creating it, more conscious of their own feelings and ways of handling it, and more likely to deal with it effectively when they encounter it, whether in themselves or in other people.

Workshop C2: Intro to Riq'a Style Calligraphy

November 10, 2012 11:00 AMThis is my event.This workshop is an introduction to the different styles of calligraphy with a hands-on lesson on the basic elements of the Riq'a style. You will learn how to write letters in Riq'a calligraphy. It is a great first time lesson for anyone interested in taking a step toward the beautiful art of Arabic calligraphy. While it would be beneficial for you to know the Arabic alphabet, it is not required.

Workshop AC2: Turning Rumi: Verses of Unity & Love

November 10, 2012 1:30 PMThis is my event.You will be creating an original cut-out of a Whirling Rumi, a whirling dervish figure, from a stencil. You will then paint this cut-out and write verses from Rumi. The finished product will be for you to take home to hang or display on a table. No previous painting experience required.

Workshop AC5: Ottoman Marbling

November 10, 2012 1:30 PMThis is my event.In this workshop, you will be introduced to Islamic bookbinding and marbling techniques, after which you will be given the opportunity to explore marbling on your own and in small groups. The end product will be beautiful marbled papers to take home. No previous experience required.

Workshop C1: Intro to Nasta'liq Style Calligraphy

November 10, 2012 1:30 PMThis is my event.In this workshop, you will learn to recognize the key features of the Nasta'liq style of Arabic/Persian calligraphy, become familiar with traditional calligraphy tools, and learn to write letters and words using the Nasta'liq style. You will leave the workshop with your own attempts at the Nasta'liq style, and have your name or a word of your choice written for you in Nasta'liq style as a work of art from the artist/instructor. No previous calligraphy experience required.

Workshop LC3: The Art of Henna

November 10, 2012 1:30 PMThis is my event.In this workshop, you will learn the technique of applying henna, and creating your own designs. Skills taught will enable you to become a henna artist yourself! Henna application will be on the hand. No previous experience necessary.

November 10, 2012 1:30 PMThis is my event.In this workshop, you will be engaged in a discussion aimed at exploring your personal relationship with religion and spirituality. You will be encouraged to share openly about the similarities and differences between your spiritual and religious experiences and practices, as well as how religion and spirituality influence your sense of identity. You will then be given techniques to help you write your own monologue that reflect the insights you have gained through workshop participation. You will complete a brief monologue, which you will then be encouraged to share with the class.

Workshop M3: The Most Beautiful Names of God in Song

November 10, 2012 2:00 PMThis is my event.In this workshop, you will learn the Muslim practice of invoking God's 99 names, which are referred to as the most beautiful names of Allah. It is Muslim custom to recite these 99 names in different forms, including in songs of praise of God (zikr/ dhikr). This class aims to teach you to sing some of the most beautiful names of God, while explaining their meaning. You will also learn the different styles of music practiced in Muslim worship and in celebrations.

Workshop AC3: Art on Glass

November 10, 2012 3:30 PMThis is my event.In this workshop, you will learn glass painting techniques using Middle Eastern decorative designs. Small glass containers will be provided for you to paint on to apply those techniques. The finished product will be yours to take home.

Workshop M2: Intro to Forms & Functions of Music in Islam

November 10, 2012 3:30 PMThis is my event.This workshop will familiarize you with Islamic devotional and ceremonial music, including Qur'anic recitation and Sufi and ceremonial chanting, which occupy an important space in Islamic worship rituals and religious celebrations. You will learn the different musical forms in Islam and their function in religious practice. You will learn to sing excerpts from the most prominent and common chants and songs. Musicians will be present to allow you to experience the music live.

Workshop LC2: Hijabi for a Day: Unveiling the Veil

November 10, 2012 4:00 PMThis is my event.This workshop is a rare opportunity to partake in a discourse that reflects the complexity and diversity of Muslim women. You will be able to explore experiences and attitudes surrounding the veil or "hijab" in Islam and Muslim life in America. It will shed light on the experience of wearing the veil and keeping it on, wearing it and taking it off, and not having worn it all, and the reasons, attitudes, and consequences surrounding such choices. This will be facilitated through a panel discussion of different women who have each made different choices vis a vis the veil. The workshop will also provide you a chance to see the veil in a different light: Not only as a religious garment, but also a cultural one, and, finally, a fashion statement that is as much about self-expression as, say, Lady Gaga's meat dress is. The pièce de résistance of the workshop is your chance to wear the veil stylishly with the help of a "hijabi" fashionista stylist, and to be photographed in it in a fun photo booth! You will get to take home a digital copy of your picture and post it on your social media accounts!

Workshop C3: Intro to Thuluth Style Calligraphy

November 10, 2012 4:30 PMThis is my event.This workshop will provide you with a brief history of Islamic calligraphy, teach you the basic principles of Thuluth style so that you may distinguish it from other styles, and will teach you to write your name and basic words in the Thuluth style.

Workshop AA2: The Arabesque in Islamic Art and Architecture

November 10, 2012 5:30 PMThis is my event.This hands-on workshop will explore the principles and history of the arabesque in Islamic art and architecture by exploring different styles of its form generation. You will leave the class with a stencil of your own design that you can then use for any craft project (for stencil printing on t-shirts, gift wrap paper, interior decoration, etc.)

Workshop LC1: Perfume and Incense of the Islamic Golden Age

November 10, 2012 5:30 PMThis is my event.In this workshop, you will explore the role of scent in Islamic civilization. You will learn about the history of perfume use during the Islamic golden age and also be introduced to the Muslim scientists who revolutionized perfumery by discovering techniques that are used until now in the industry. You will get to examine common scents used in Muslim culture and use essential oils to formulate personal perfume and incense concoctions. No previous experience necessary.

Estaughfur'llah Dhikr by the Mevlevi Order of America

November 10, 2012 7:30 PMThis is my event.The Dervish tradition of whirling and sacred Turkish music provides the foundation of the Mevlevi dhikr (devotional act). The Estaughfur'llah Dhikr is a dynamic living prayer of forgiveness and remembrance of oneness, integrating chanting, movement, and music as a participatory experience.

Workshop M7: Persian Music on Various Instruments

November 11, 2012 9:00 AMThis is my event.This workshop is designed for advanced musicians who want to learn how to play Persian music on their respective instrument(s). You will gain an appreciation for the qualities of Persian music, and learn to play a few Persian pieces. No previous experience with Persian music necessary.

Workshop AC6: Intro to Islamic Ceramics: Make Your Own!

November 11, 2012 10:00 AMThis is my event.This workshop is for adults who have an interest in exploring the motifs, history, and forms of Islamic ceramics. You will first be presented with a brief history of Islamic ceramics. Thereafter, you will explore the world of ceramic design, create your own motif, transfer it to the plate, and paint it with 'traditional' colors. No previous experience required.

Workshop C4: Intro to Deewani Style Calligraphy

November 11, 2012 10:00 AMThis is my event.This workshop will provide you with an understanding of pen, paper, and ink in calligraphy; preparing the pen; and learning the Deewani style of writing and techniques. You will have a chance to write and practice in class. No previous experience necessary.

Workshop Y1: Geometric Concepts in Islamic Art for Kids!

November 11, 2012 10:00 AMThis is my event.This workshop is a glance into the never ending possibilities in geometric design. Students will learn about the significance of geometric design in Islamic art, and will then have the ability to create their own unique design using the principles of geometry. Finished designs will turn into beautiful decorative tiles embellished with the student's personal creative touch. The child will also gain a deeper appreciation and understanding for the use of geometric design in Islamic art. Students should be familiar with using a compass, and should have an understanding of basic measurements (center, radius, diameter, etc.). Familiarity with the use of paints is also important.

Workshop M4: Christmas Carols from the Arab World

November 11, 2012 10:30 AMThis is my event.This workshop introduces you to Christmas carols from Lebanon that consist of Arabic texts adapted to Western melodies. You will learn to sing Christmas carols that have a familiar Western tune such as Jingle Bells, O Come all Ye Faithul, and others all in Arabic. There are no prerequisites for this class. Just come and enjoy learning Christmas songs in the Arabic language!

Workshop Y3: Intro to Middle Eastern Percussion for Kids!

November 11, 2012 10:30 AMThis is my event.This workshop will allow kids to learn basic sounds and techniques used for playing drums in the Arab style. We will work together on a few fun rhythms used in popular and folk dance music of the Middle East. No previous experience with drums necessary.

Workshop LC4: Common Islamic Expressions

November 11, 2012 11:00 AMThis is my event.This workshop is designed to teach you the most common Islamic expressions that Muslims use daily in different contexts. You will learn the correct pronunciation, meaning, the proper usage in the different contexts, and will get to practice it with other participants. You will walk away from the workshop knowing how to insert such expressions in your conversations to surprise your Muslim friends, or if you don't have any, to use them in making many!

Workshop W3: Women Writers' Workshop

November 11, 2012 11:00 AMThis is my event.This workshop is for women to engage in a dialogue through creative writing. This dialogue will highlight similarities between Muslim women and women of other faiths. Through prompts from books written by Muslim women, you will learn how to write creatively to convey your thoughts and passions.

November 11, 2012 1:30 PMThis is my event.In this workshop, you will gain an understanding of the major characteristics of Islamic art. Through examples and explanation, you then move to painting with acrylics on fabric, your own creative juxtaposition of any or all of the five characteristics, through use of pre-cut stencils. You will be able to take home a completed art project. Please come to class in clothes that welcome paint stains.

Workshop C5: Reed/Bamboo Pen Making

November 11, 2012 1:30 PMThis is my event.This workshop will equip you with skills on how to make a calligraphy pen from reed or bamboo, and how to write beautifully with it. No previous experience necessary.

Workshop M5: Christian and Muslim Hymns from the Arab World

November 11, 2012 1:30 PMThis is my event.This workshop introduces you to Christian and Islamic hymns from the Arab world. You will get to examine musical similarities and differences between the two traditions. You will learn to sing religious hymns in Arabic from the Christian and Islamic traditions in the Arab world. There are no prerequisites for this workshop.

Workshop M8: Intro to Middle Eastern Percussion

November 11, 2012 1:30 PMThis is my event.This workshop will allow you to learn basic sounds and techniques used for playing drums in the Arab style. We will work together on rhythms used in popular and folk dance music of the Middle East. No previous experience with drums necessary.

Workshop Y2: Mosaic Tiling and the Concept of Reflection for Kids!

November 11, 2012 1:30 PMThis is my event.This workshop will focus on two aspects of Islamic art: One being the technical aspect of mosaic tiling, and the other the important concept of reflection. Students will learn some of the symbolism behind the mosaic tiling, and then will work on piecing together their own work of art. The framed mirror will not only help them reflect upon themselves externally, but will mirror an internal reflection, as it is decorated with the student's imagination and creativity. Students are expected to have a basic understanding of the use of paint and glue.

Workshop Y4: Henna Style: Temporary Tattoos for Kids!

November 11, 2012 1:30 PMThis is my event.This workshop is for children ages 8-16 who are interested in exploring Near Eastern culture and design. Kids will be shown a short slideshow of different styles of henna. From Morocco to India, Muslims have practiced this ancient art, and the students will then be asked to talk about which style is their favorite and why, and then they will be allowed to experiment with henna tattoos.

Workshop M6: Advanced Qanun: Arab, Azari, Persian, & Turkish

November 11, 2012 2:00 PMThis is my event.This workshop is an exploration of Arab, Azari, Persian, and Turkish music on the qanun for advanced qanun players. We will refresh our knowledge of the qanun and how it is made, and learn maqams on the qanun, transposing maqamat, the relationship of different maqamat to each other, playing songs in different keys, and appreciating that every nationality has its own accent in rhythms. While music sheets will be provided, the ability to read notes is not necessary.

Workshop Y5: Christmas Carols from the Arab World

November 11, 2012 3:30 PMThis is my event.This workshop introduces students to Christmas carols from the Arab World that consist of Arabic texts adapted to Western melodies. Children will learn to sing Christmas carols in Arabic adapted to Western tunes such as Jingle Bells, O Come All Ye Faithful, and others. There are no prerequisites for this class. Children can just come and enjoy learning Christmas songs in the Arabic language.